ASHLOK FF - AT FIRST SIGHT Last Chapter - Page 25

Shlok was getting impatient, he kept looking at the time and at the door. What's keeping her? Has she already reached the hospital?

Shlok couldn't take it any longer. He just buzzed, and a nurse came hurriedly to the room. He told her " can you please let me know if my doctor, Dr. Astha is in? If she's come to work today?" The nurse looked at him anxiously and asked him "are you feeling any pain, is everything ok?" He just retorted back saying "I'm fine, my mother wants to have a word with her before she leaves" he was lying of course. Not all of it.

Anjali had go to back to India that night. Joyti has been admitted to hospital with false labour pains. But she didn't want to take a chances. She wanted to be there for her only daughters first child's birth. Sholk assured her and she knew he's in good hands. So all were to go back including Varad. He had few of his friends in LA. They too had called him up few had even visited him including a cousin sister whose settled in LA.

It was 10.30 a.m and she walked in. With a smile on her face. Shlok was seated in a chair and out of hospital clothes. Wearing a sweat pant and a robe. He looked even more handsome than the last time she saw him.

His heart raced at the speed of lightning. He was so relieved to see her finally in the flesh. He wished he could just wish everyone to be gone, for them to be left alone. There's so much he wanted to tell her, know about her. Last night he realised he's having all these strong feelings for her yet he knew next to nothing about her.

He didn't want to ask from the nurses. He didn't want to embarrass her. What of she's married and has a family already. Is he putting himself out there all too soon. But he noticed that she her ring finger was bare. And no mangalsutra, but she could be married to a non-Indian. He needed to get some answers from her. But what right does he have to ask her anything personal?

Anjali too walked out the wash room, happy to see Astha. Astha looked at her and gave a very warm smile and Astha was checking his file. She wanted to check his chest, she sat on the small coffe table that was next to the chair he was seated and kept the Stethoscope on his chest. He kept staring at her. Looking straight in the eyes. She was feeling extremely nervous. She tried to hide it. Asked him to breath normally and then heavy breaths. He did as she asked. He liked what he felt when she was so close to him. He can almost feel her breaths on him. He inhaled her scent. He liked everything about her.

He kept his eyes on her the whole time. Shlok didn't want to hide the fact that she's got his attention. She got the message loud and clear. Not that she's going to act on it.

Anjali, was looking at them from a distance. She was happy seeing them together. Her heart filled with immense happiness and hope. Maybe at last he's found someone who can give her son all the love he deserves.

Astha, after checking his pulse turned towards Anjali, and said "everything is ok. There's nothing to worry. In a few more days he'll be discharged" she also told Shlok that tomorrow he can take a bath and she will be there to change the dressing. He couldn't be happier. Her tender delicate hands are gonna be all over my body! He couldn't hide his glee.

When Astha was about to take her leave, Anjali came up to her informed her that they all are leaving for Mumbai later that day. " Please, take care of my son and Thank you for saving my sons life. I can never repay for what you did for my son" and hugged Astha. She got the same feeling of warmth she had felt with her own mother. Tears were forming in her eyes. Anjali, looked at her face and gave here forehead a kiss with all her motherly affection. Thanked her once more.

Astha reassured her that he'll be back in Mumbai before they know it. And that he'll be taken care of. Astha wanted to do something to reduce her anxiety. So she have her personal mobile number, asking her to call anytime. And if she's not in surgery, she would surely take her call. If not to leave a message she would call her back. Anjali felt better and relaxed. With that she left the room.

"So, ma, what do you think?" Shlok asked with a boyish grin on his face. She walked up to him and removed a pair of bangles that was given to Anjali by her own mother-in-law and placed it on Shlok's hands. He just kissed his mothers hand. He got his mother's answer. And he couldn't be happier. All he needs to do is find out what she thinks of him.

Astha's heart was filled with an unimaginable warmth, she thought it's because of Mrs. Agnihotris warm hug and the kiss. She felt her mothers warmth in her embrace. She just put it to that. She had no time to dwell on her self, she had a busy schedule, with surgeries and taking in few interns under her wing. She was swamped with work.

She reached home late evening. Tired but looking forward to spending time with her precious angles. As she entered the house her little munchkins thats what she calls them, came running to her. She was engulfed in their embrace. All the fatigue and restless feelings vanished in an instant. The house was smelling of home baked bread. She was in her heaven with her little Angels.

She was very grateful for her live in nanny, Shanthi. She was abandoned by her indian husband and didn't want to go back to india fearing her father and her brothers would kill her for bringing shame to the family when she married below their cast. She was extremely happy staying with them taking care of the twins and the house. Astha, treated her like an elder sister.Roshni and Rashmi called her Anuty Sha and loved her as much as they loved their mother after all they spent more time with her than with Astha. She had been with the her since the twins came to be in her life.

After putting her little munchkins to bed, she came to her room. Just then her phone buzzed. She checked. It was a message from an unknown number. She opened the message with a puzzled look.

Hi, Astha, please don't be freaked out. I'm not crazy or dillutional. In fact I've never been so sure about anything in my life. But I don't have much time. I really need to talk to you. I have to tell you what's in my heart.Shlok

She read the message many times over. But I was the same. So many emotions were running through her, she didn't know which is which. What does he want to talk to me about? what have I done? Did I lead him on? What's in his heart? Should I be happy? Shouldn't I be jumping with joy? What is there to talk about? And reality hit her hard.

There's nothing to talk about. Nothing that words can change. My life is and will remain the same. Just like it's been for the past 20 Years. I have nothing to give him. I can never break my promise to myself to never to do the same mistake as my mother did. I will never put my girls life in danger for my happiness.

You're being naive Shlok, you have no idea what my life's been through. Once you find out the truth about me you'll be avoiding me like the plague and trying to forget me like a bad dream. I'm sorry if I gave you any false hopes. It was never my intension. Just forget you ever met me. We have Nothing to talk for I have nothing to say.

She typed the message with tears streaming down her cheeks.